State Confirms 5th Hantavirus Case, Most In WA Since 1999

SEATTLE, WA - State health officials on Thursday said that a fifth case of deadly hantavirus has been confirmed in the state, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to five in 2017. That's the highest number of hantavirus cases in the state since 1999, according to state officials.

The cases first came to light in King County after an Issaquah man died from the virus in February. A second woman from Issaquah contracted the virus, but later recovered. A third case occurred in King County at the end of 2016 in Redmond.

Since those cases, hantavirus has emerged in Franklin, Spokane, and Skagit counties. The victims in Spokane and Franklin counties died, while the Skagit victim survived.

Hantavirus is very deadly, with a mortality rate of about 38 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Seasonal flu, by comparison, has a mortality rate of about 2.5 percent.

Humans contract hantavirus by coming into contact with the feces, urine, or saliva of infected deer mice. Humans often come into contact with deer mice droppings while cleaning or working inside outdoor structures, like barns or recreational vehicles.

There were also five cases reported in 1999. And until this year, 1999 was the only year on record where hantavirus cases reached five more more. There were four cases each in 1995 and 1996, according to state records.

The state Department of Health hosts a webpage featuring tips on how to avoid coming into contact with hantavirus.

Image via Patch.com